Matt: Why are we always told not to refreeze meat? When you go to the supermarket, you often find poultry and sometimes beef and pork that is defrosting right there on the rack, and when …
June 11, 1998
Straight from the Hip
Archived articles
Why are we told not to refreeze meat?
What happened to Ted Kaczynski's cabin from Montana?
Dear Sir: The Mad Bomber, Ted Kaczynski, lived in a decrepit cabin in Montana. During his trial, the government seized it and hauled it to Sacramento. Whatever happened to it? Rumor has it that it …
June 4, 1998
Why do we sweat and feel uncomfortable when the outside temperature is 97.8 degrees?
M.A. of Reader: The average internal temp of humans is 98.7 degrees F. Why then do people sweat and feel uncomfortable when the outside temp is 98.7? -- L.B. of Poway Skin's big job is …
June 4, 1998
How come stupid Americans can enter sweepstakes, but stupid Canadians can't?
American Hero: I've entered a few sweepstakes-type contests in the recent past, and a few of them have a statement such as "Canadian residents, in order to win, must first correctly answer a time-limited skill-testing …
June 4, 1998
What happens when someone opposes a marriage during the ceremony?
Matt: What's the dealio wit the part of the wedding vows when the priest sez, "Does anyone feel that these two should not be joined in holy matrimony?" What happens when your brother's friend raises …
May 21, 1998
What is the connection between country singers and yodeling?
Dear Mr. Alice: Why do country singers yodel? What could have been the connection that brought yodeling from the Swiss Alps to Nashville, or did yodeling crop up independently as a form of expression among …
May 21, 1998
Do they put plastic in fast food shakes?
Hi, Matt: Recently my husband and I were sitting in our parked car and romantically slurping up Wendy's Frostys. I felt the mood was somewhat shattered when he wondered aloud whether Wendy's, like McDonald's, adds …
May 14, 1998
Why are basketball players called "cagers?"
Matt: No one's ever been able to tell me why basketball players are called "cagers." Can you? -- Wes, San Diego Dear Matthew Alice: Why is a football called a pigskin? Best I can tell, …
May 14, 1998
How can you tell if a bird is pregnant?
Matt: I could tell when my dog was pregnant. You can tell when a cat or a horse is pregnant. Why don't we ever see a pregnant bird? -- Dweezil (not that Dweezil), out there …
May 7, 1998
When convicted of a crime, how is a life sentence determined?
Matmail: I just heard about a guy got a life sentence plus 10 years. Recently I heard of someone getting three lifetimes. What does that mean? That guy with life plus 10 years "can't even …
May 7, 1998
Who ate the first raisin or prune?
Dear Matthew Alice: I'm wondering who was the first person or people to eat a raisin or a prune. While they do taste very good, you must admit that the appearance is like a rotten …
May 7, 1998